How To Clean Your Microwave Without Scrubbing

Use this simple CLEANING HACK to get your microwave clean – without having to scrub. With two ingredients, you can clean your microwave without having to scrub and have it looking and smelling better than ever!

Okay, okay, I’m going to start off by being honest with you guys. Because I know you appreciate it, and I always feel better giving you the whole story.

I have this huge pet peeve about myself…

I love cleaning – whether it’s vacuuming and deep cleaning the carpets, scrubbing the bathroom shower, or washing the walls, I take great pride in having a clean and healthy home. But I rarely clean my microwave.

GASP. Whaaaaaat?!

I know what you’re thinking – you found my blog, and read ‘Slay At Home Mother’, and must think I project cleaning and organizational perfection. But my microwave is just as gross as yours!

When I say I ‘rarely’ clean my microwave, I mean I clean it maybe once every 4-6 months. I know, I know. I’m straight lazy when it comes to my microwave. I will let that sucker sit in filth until I can no longer stand it. I will let it get to the point where I’m not even sure my little microwave trick will work. There will be caked-on food, burnt tomato sauce, cheesy bits of goo that have been nuked probably 100 times…

And then there is the fact that I forget about it as soon as I grab the ready food and close the door. Kind of like the oven – you close the door, and the mess is contained and hidden. ‘Oh, I will just get to it later! I have 8,573,620,395 other things I could/should/want to do right now…’

I’m working on it! Maybe one day I’ll learn to implement it into my regular cleaning routine.

Luckily, I know a way that battles both laziness and the built-up gunk! If you’re anything like me when it comes to the microwave, then no need to fret when it comes to the baked on goo that is living in your microwave.

Keep reading to find out how to clean your microwave with little to no scrubbing, eliminate any bad smells (goodbye burnt popcorn smell!), and freshen your garbage disposal in the process….

*This post contains affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own, as always.

Yuck. Disgusting, right? I told ya! The last time I cleaned our microwave, there was tomato sauce everywhere – it was a hot mess. Pun intended.

Even the door was covered in filth, grease, and grime…I honestly think this slimy film covering the door is from popcorn? I wouldn’t be surprised – we eat a ton of it. I can’t be sure, but it’s definitely greasy and gross. I don’t think I’ve ever written a post with so many negative adjectives, by the way – you’re witnessing history here…

Luckily, I can take care of this nasty kitchen appliance in just five minutes with little to no scrubbing!

Okay, so here’s the good part. The miracle cleaner…

Miracle Microwave Cleaner

*Note: Please follow the instructions, and do not place plastic bottles or containers that are not microwave-safe into a microwave. This photo is just for visuals for my blog and does not depict actual use.

To get your microwave clean, you’ll need two household ingredients and two household items:

2 cups of tap water

2 tbsp of lemon juice (either fresh or bottled)

1 Microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl

Tablespoon (or cough syrup measuring cup)

– Fill microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup with 2 cups of tap water, and add 2 tbsp of lemon juice. If you have a fresh lemon in your fridge, you can use that as well – just cut it in half, and squeeze the juice into the bowl.

BTW – If your tablespoon is dirty or can’t be located, you can always use a medicine measuring cup. 2 tbsp almost equals 30 mL of liquid!

I always have lemon juice on hand, especially in the winter months when Chris goes ice fishing and brings home fish for dinner! Lemon juice and tartar sauce make a hand breaded fish dinner even better!

How To Clean Your Microwave

With your lemon juice ready and in hand, place it in your microwave. Close the microwave door, and heat the lemon water on HIGH for 5 minutes.

*My microwave is older – newer microwaves might do okay on HIGH power for only 3-4 minutes, so take the age of your microwave into consideration.

While the lemon water is heating up, I like to take the time to wipe down the top, bottom, sides, and front of the microwave’s exterior. I use regular Windex and a microfiber clothfor this quick wipe down.

I think I caught the exact moment the timer on my microwave was changing from 4:32 to 4:31 – how awesome is that? Obviously, I don’t get out much ;).

As the microwave is heating the lemon water, the water may start to boil – that’s okay! With 10 or 15 seconds left on the timer, wet a washcloth with warm water to help you wipe down the interior.

When the microwave is done, open the door and carefully take the bowl or measuring cup out. You can pour most of this liquid down your sink drain to freshen up your garbage disposal, but keep some in the cup for any hardcore scrubbing you may need to do. I rarely need to scrub using this method.

First, carefully remove the turntable (it may be very hot) and wipe it down. This may have the most difficult splatter and mess to clean up and should be handled first.

Next, wipe down the walls, ceiling, floor, and door with your wet rag or sponge (with the soft side).

If you have some goo that has been cooked for a very long time and is still giving you grief, dip your washcloth or sponge into the remaining hot lemon water and scrub away at the goo for just a minute until it disappears!

Cleaning Your Microwave With Lemon

And there you go – your microwave is now clean! What took you probably five months to dirty only took you five minutes to clean!

I love using lemon to deodorize and clean my microwave. It always comes out smelling fabulous and looks almost brand new! Lemon helps cut through the many months of grease, grime, and neglect on my part.

You May Also Like: Natural DIY All-Purpose Cleaner + The Best Essential Oils For Cleaning

Primary Sidebar

About

Let’s Connect

Latest YouTube Video

Searching for something specific?

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn feed by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Any clicks or purchases made through these links are kindly appreciated and are at no cost to my readers.